Named characters

Major entities (proper, common)

FAC

92 the room/The room
70 the castle
61 here/Here
56 the Great Hall/The Great Hall
52 the Hall/the hall
38 the entrance hall/The entrance hall
38 the grounds/The grounds
34 there
33 the field/The field
31 the kitchen

GPE

16 the village
10 there
4 the country
3 the castle
3 the place
2 the village of Hogsmeade
1 the whole village
1 the neighboring town of Great Hangleton
1 the terrifying wizard jail guarded by creatures called dementors , sightless , soul - sucking fiends who had come to search for Sirius at Hogwarts when he had escaped
1 department

LOC

52 the lake/The lake
30 the forest
15 the world/The world
15 the water/The water
10 the woods
7 the clearing
5 the wood
5 the bank
5 the mountain
5 the cave

PER

84 sir/Sir
60 someone/Someone
56 people/People
52 everyone/Everyone
48 the crowd/The crowd
42 anyone/Anyone
41 my father/My father
37 the champions/The champions
36 nobody/Nobody
31 each other

ORG

30 the Ministry
13 the Ministry of Magic/The Ministry of Magic
7 the school
4 the Department of International Magical Cooperation
3 the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
3 each school
3 the participating schools
2 our department
2 the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad
2 the Department of Mysteries

VEH

13 the train/The train
9 the carriage
7 the Durmstrang ship
6 the Beauxbatons carriage/The Beauxbatons carriage
5 the ship
3 their carriage
2 their cars
2 the veela
2 the carriages
1 a car

Text

[The villagers of [Little Hangleton]_{1-little hangleton}]_{591-the villagers of little hangleton} still called [it]_592-its “ [the Riddle House]_{5028-the riddle house} , ”_{[591-the villagers of little hangleton]} even though it had been many years since [the Riddle family]_{593-the riddle family} had lived [there]_594-there . [It]_592-its stood on [a hill overlooking [the village]_{596-the village}]_{595-a hill overlooking the village} , some of [its]_592-its windows boarded , tiles missing from [its]_592-its roof , and ivy spreading unchecked over [its]_592-its face . Once [a fine - looking manor]_{597-a fine - looking manor} , and easily [the largest and grandest building for miles around]_{598-the largest and grandest building for miles around} , [the Riddle House]_{2-the riddle house} was now damp , derelict , and unoccupied . [The Little Hangletons]_{165-the little hangletons} all agreed that [the old house]_{599-the old house} was “ creepy . ”_{[165-the little hangletons]} Half a century ago , something strange and horrible had happened [there]_594-there , something that [the older inhabitants of]_{601-the older inhabitants of} [the village]_{596-the village} still liked to discuss when topics for gossip were scarce . The story had been picked over so many times , and had been embroidered in so many places , that [nobody]_603-nobody was quite sure what the truth was anymore . Every version of the tale , however , started in the same place : Fifty years before , at daybreak on a fine summer ’s morning , when [the Riddle House]_{5028-the riddle house} had still been well kept and impressive , [a maid]_{605-a maid} had entered [the drawing room]_{606-the drawing room} to find [all three Riddles]_{607-all three riddles} dead . [The maid]_{608-the maid} had run screaming down [the hill]_{609-the hill} into [the village]_{596-the village} and roused as many people as [she]_{608-the maid} could . “ Lying there with [their]_{607-all three riddles} eyes wide open ! Cold as ice ! Still in [their]_{607-all three riddles} dinner things ! ”_{[608-the maid]} [The police]_{611-the police} were summoned , and [the whole of [Little Hangleton]_{1-little hangleton}]_{612-the whole of little hangleton} had seethed with shocked curiosity and ill - disguised excitement . [Nobody]_603-nobody wasted [their]_603-nobody breath pretending to feel very sad about the Riddles , for [they]_{607-all three riddles} had been most unpopular . [Elderly Mr. and Mrs. Riddle]_{166-elderly mr. and mrs. riddle} had been rich , snobbish , and rude , and [[their]_{166-elderly mr. and mrs. riddle} grown - up son]_{614-their grown - up son} , [Tom]_167-dean , had been , if anything , worse . All [the villagers]_{615-the villagers} cared about was the identity of [[their]_{615-the villagers} murderer]_{616-their murderer} — for plainly , [three apparently healthy people]_{617-three apparently healthy people} did not all drop dead of natural causes on the same night . [The Hanged Man]_{618-the hanged man} , [the village pub]_{619-the village pub} , did a roaring trade that night ; [the whole village]_{620-the whole village} seemed to have turned out to discuss the murders . [They]_{615-the villagers} were rewarded for leaving [their]_{615-the villagers} firesides when [[the Riddles]_{168-the riddles} ’ cook]_{621-the riddles ’ cook} arrived dramatically in [their]_{615-the villagers} midst and announced to [the suddenly silent pub]_{622-the suddenly silent pub} that [a man called [Frank Bryce]_169-frank]_{623-a man called frank bryce} had just been arrested . “ [Frank]_169-frank ! ”_{[624-several people]} cried [several people]_{624-several people} . “ Never ! ”_{[624-several people]} [Frank Bryce]_169-frank was [[the Riddles]_{625-the riddles} ’ gardener]_{626-the riddles ’ gardener} . [He]_169-frank lived alone in [a run - down cottage]_{627-a run - down cottage} on [the grounds of [the Riddle House]_{5028-the riddle house}]_{628-the grounds of the riddle house} . [Frank]_169-frank had come back from the war with a very stiff leg and a great dislike of crowds and loud noises , and had been working for [the Riddles]_{168-the riddles} ever since . There was a rush to buy [the cook]_{630-the cook} drinks and hear more details . “ Always thought [he]_169-frank was odd , ”_{[630-the cook]} [she]_{630-the cook} told [the eagerly listening villagers]_{631-the eagerly listening villagers} , after [her]_{630-the cook} fourth sherry . “ Unfriendly , like . [I]_{630-the cook} ’m sure if [I]_{630-the cook} ’ve offered [him]_169-frank a cuppa once , [I]_{630-the cook} ’ve offered it a hundred times . Never wanted to mix , [he]_169-frank did n’t . ”_{[630-the cook]} “ Ah , now , ”_{[632-a woman at the bar]} said [a woman at the bar]_{632-a woman at the bar} , “ [he]_169-frank had a hard war , [Frank]_169-frank . [He]_169-frank likes the quiet life . That ’s no reason to — ”_{[632-a woman at the bar]} “ Who else had a key to the back door , then ? ”_{[630-the cook]} barked [the cook]_{630-the cook} . “ There ’s been a spare key hanging in [[the gardener]_{5029-the gardener} ’s cottage]_{5030-the gardener ’s cottage} far back as [I]_{630-the cook} can remember ! [Nobody]_603-nobody forced the door last night ! No broken windows ! All [Frank]_169-frank had to do was creep up to [the big house]_{5032-the big house} while [we]_{615-the villagers} was all sleeping ... ”_{[630-the cook]} [The villagers]_{615-the villagers} exchanged dark looks . “ [I]_{635-a man at the bar} always thought [he]_169-frank had a nasty look about [him]_169-frank , right enough , ”_{[635-a man at the bar]} grunted [a man at the bar]_{635-a man at the bar} . “ War turned [him]_169-frank funny , if [you]_5033-you ask [me]_{636-the landlord} , ”_{[636-the landlord]} said [the landlord]_{636-the landlord} . “ Told [you]_170-dot [I]_{637-an excited woman in the corner} would n’t like to get on the wrong side of [Frank]_169-frank , did n’t [I]_{637-an excited woman in the corner} , [Dot]_170-dot ? ”_{[637-an excited woman in the corner]} said [an excited woman in the corner]_{637-an excited woman in the corner} . “ Horrible temper , ”_[170-dot] said [Dot]_170-dot , nodding fervently . “ [I]_170-dot remember , when [he]_169-frank was [a kid]_{5034-a kid} ... ”_[170-dot] By the following morning , [hardly anyone in [Little Hangleton]_{1-little hangleton}]_{638-hardly anyone in little hangleton} doubted that [Frank Bryce]_169-frank had killed [the Riddles]_{168-the riddles} . But over in [the neighboring town of Great Hangleton]_{639-the neighboring town of great hangleton} , in [the dark and dingy police station]_{640-the dark and dingy police station} , [Frank]_169-frank was stubbornly repeating , again and again , that [he]_169-frank was innocent , and that [the only person [he]_169-frank had seen near [the house]_{642-the house} on the day of the Riddles ’ deaths]_{641-the only person he had seen near the house on the day of the riddles ’ deaths} had been [a teenage boy]_{643-a teenage boy} , [a stranger]_{644-a stranger} , dark - haired and pale . [Nobody else in [the village]_{596-the village}]_{645-nobody else in the village} had seen [any such boy]_{647-any such boy} , and [the police]_{611-the police} were quite sure that [Frank]_169-frank had invented [him]_{643-a teenage boy} . Then , just when things were looking very serious for [Frank]_169-frank , the report on the Riddles ’ bodies came back and changed everything . [The police]_{611-the police} had never read an odder report . [A team of doctors]_{650-a team of doctors} had examined the bodies and had concluded that none of [the Riddles]_{168-the riddles} had been poisoned , stabbed , shot , strangled , suffocated , or ( as far as [they]_{650-a team of doctors} could tell ) harmed at all . In fact ( the report continued , in a tone of unmistakable bewilderment ) , the Riddles all appeared to be in perfect health — apart from the fact that [they]_{168-the riddles} were all dead . [The doctors]_{651-the doctors} did note ( as though determined to find something wrong with the bodies ) that each of the Riddles had a look of terror upon [his]_652-his or [her]_653-her face — but as [the frustrated police]_{654-the frustrated police} said , whoever heard of [three people being frightened to death]_{655-three people being frightened to death} ? As there was no proof that [the Riddles]_{168-the riddles} had been murdered at all , [the police]_{611-the police} were forced to let [Frank]_169-frank go . [The Riddles]_{168-the riddles} were buried in [the Little Hangleton churchyard]_{657-the little hangleton churchyard} , and [their]_{168-the riddles} graves remained objects of curiosity for a while . To [everyone]_658-everyone ’s surprise , and amid a cloud of suspicion , [Frank Bryce]_169-frank returned to [[his]_169-frank cottage]_{659-his cottage} on [the grounds of [the Riddle House]_{5028-the riddle house}]_{628-the grounds of the riddle house} . “ ’S far as [I]_170-dot ’m concerned , [he]_169-frank killed [them]_{168-the riddles} , and [I]_170-dot do n’t care what [the police]_{611-the police} say , ”_[170-dot] said [Dot]_170-dot in [the Hanged Man]_{618-the hanged man} . “ And if [he]_169-frank had any decency , [he]_169-frank ’d leave [here]_5036-here , knowing as how [we]_{666-the new owners} knows [he]_169-frank did it . ”_[170-dot] But [Frank]_169-frank did not leave . [He]_169-frank stayed to tend [the garden]_{663-the garden} for [the next family]_{664-the next family} who lived in [the Riddle House]_{2-the riddle house} , and then the next — for [neither family]_{665-neither family} stayed long . Perhaps it was partly because of [Frank]_169-frank that [the new owners]_{666-the new owners} said there was a nasty feeling about [the place]_{667-the place} , which , in the absence of [inhabitants]_{668-inhabitants} , started to fall into disrepair . [The wealthy man who owned [the Riddle House]_{2-the riddle house} these days]_{669-the wealthy man who owned the riddle house these days} neither lived [there]_594-there nor put [it]_594-there to any use ; [they]_{669-the wealthy man who owned the riddle house these days} said in [the village]_{596-the village} that [he]_{669-the wealthy man who owned the riddle house these days} kept [it]_594-there for “ tax reasons , ”_{[669-the wealthy man who owned the riddle house these days]} though [nobody]_603-nobody was very clear what these might be . [The wealthy owner]_{673-the wealthy owner} continued to pay [Frank]_169-frank to do the gardening , however . [Frank]_169-frank was nearing [his]_169-frank seventy - seventh birthday now , very deaf , [his]_169-frank bad leg stiffer than ever , but could be seen pottering around the flower beds in fine weather , even though the weeds were starting to creep up on [him]_169-frank , try as [he]_169-frank might to suppress them . Weeds were not the only things [Frank]_169-frank had to contend with either . [Boys from [the village]_{596-the village}]_{674-boys from the village} made a habit of throwing stones through the windows of [the Riddle House]_{2-the riddle house} . [They]_{674-boys from the village} rode [their]_{674-boys from the village} bicycles over [the lawns]_{676-the lawns} [Frank]_169-frank worked so hard to keep smooth . Once or twice , [they]_{674-boys from the village} broke into [the old house]_{599-the old house} for a dare . [They]_{674-boys from the village} knew that old [Frank]_169-frank ’s devotion to [the house]_{642-the house} and [grounds]_679-grounds amounted almost to an obsession , and it amused [them]_{674-boys from the village} to see [him]_169-frank limping across [the garden]_{663-the garden} , brandishing [his]_169-frank stick and yelling croakily at [them]_{674-boys from the village} . [Frank]_169-frank , for [his]_169-frank part , believed [the boys]_{681-the boys} tormented [him]_169-frank because [they]_{681-the boys} , like [[their]_{681-the boys} parents]_{682-their parents} and [grandparents]_{683-grandparents} , thought [him]_169-frank [a murderer]_{684-a murderer} . So when [Frank]_169-frank awoke one night in August and saw something very odd up at [the old house]_{599-the old house} , [he]_169-frank merely assumed that [the boys]_{681-the boys} had gone one step further in [their]_{681-the boys} attempts to punish [him]_169-frank . It was [Frank]_169-frank ’s bad leg that woke [him]_169-frank ; it was paining [him]_169-frank worse than ever in [his]_169-frank old age . [He]_169-frank got up and limped [downstairs]_{687-downstairs} into [the kitchen]_{688-the kitchen} with the idea of refilling [his]_169-frank hot - water bottle to ease the stiffness in [his]_169-frank knee . Standing at the sink , filling the kettle , [he]_169-frank looked up at [the Riddle House]_{2-the riddle house} and saw lights glimmering in [its]_{2-the riddle house} upper windows . [Frank]_169-frank knew at once what was going on . [The boys]_{681-the boys} had broken into [the house]_{642-the house} again , and judging by the flickering quality of the light , [they]_{681-the boys} had started a fire . [Frank]_169-frank had no telephone , and in any case , [he]_169-frank had deeply mistrusted [the police]_{611-the police} ever since [they]_{611-the police} had taken [him]_169-frank in for questioning about [the Riddles]_{168-the riddles} ’ deaths . [He]_169-frank put down the kettle at once , hurried back [upstairs]_692-upstairs as fast as [his]_169-frank bad leg would allow , and was soon back in [[his]_169-frank kitchen]_{693-his kitchen} , fully dressed and removing a rusty old key from its hook by the door . [He]_169-frank picked up [his]_169-frank walking stick , which was propped against the wall , and set off into the night . The front door of [the Riddle House]_{5028-the riddle house} bore no sign of being forced , nor did any of the windows . [Frank]_169-frank limped around to the back of [the house]_{642-the house} until [he]_169-frank reached a door almost completely hidden by ivy , took out the old key , put it into the lock , and opened the door noiselessly . [He]_169-frank let [himself]_169-frank into [the cavernous kitchen]_{696-the cavernous kitchen} . [Frank]_169-frank had not entered [it]_{696-the cavernous kitchen} for many years ; nevertheless , although [it]_697-it was very dark , [he]_169-frank remembered where the door into [the hall]_{698-the hall} was , and [he]_169-frank groped [his]_169-frank way toward [it]_{696-the cavernous kitchen} , [his]_169-frank nostrils full of the smell of decay , ears pricked for any sound of footsteps or voices from overhead . [He]_169-frank reached [the hall]_{698-the hall} , which was a little lighter owing to the large mullioned windows on either side of the front door , and started to climb the stairs , blessing the dust that lay thick upon the stone , because it muffled the sound of [his]_169-frank feet and stick . On [the landing]_{700-the landing} , [Frank]_169-frank turned right , and saw at once where [the intruders]_{701-the intruders} were : At the very end of [the passage]_{702-the passage} a door stood ajar , and a flickering light shone through the gap , casting a long sliver of gold across the black floor . [Frank]_169-frank edged closer and closer , grasping [his]_169-frank walking stick firmly . Several feet from the entrance , [he]_169-frank was able to see a narrow slice of [the room beyond]_{703-the room beyond} . The fire , [he]_169-frank now saw , had been lit in the grate . This surprised [him]_169-frank . Then [he]_169-frank stopped moving and listened intently , for [a man]_{704-a man} ’s voice spoke within [the room]_{705-the room} ; it sounded timid and fearful . “ There is a little more in the bottle , [[my]_{704-a man} Lord]_{5037-my lord} , if [you]_169-frank are still hungry . ”_{[704-a man]} “ Later , ”_{[704-a man]} said a second voice . This too belonged to [a man]_{704-a man} — but it was strangely high - pitched , and cold as a sudden blast of icy wind . Something about that voice made the sparse hairs on the back of [Frank]_169-frank ’s neck stand up . “ Move [me]_169-frank closer to the fire , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . ”_[169-frank] [Frank]_169-frank turned [his]_169-frank right ear toward the door , the better to hear . There came the clink of a bottle being put down upon some hard surface , and then the dull scraping noise of a heavy chair being dragged across the floor . [Frank]_169-frank caught a glimpse of [a small man]_{707-a small man} , [his]_{707-a small man} back to the door , pushing the chair into place . [He]_{707-a small man} was wearing a long black cloak , and there was a bald patch at the back of [his]_{707-a small man} head . Then [he]_{707-a small man} went out of sight again . “ Where is [Nagini]_172-nagini ? ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said [the cold voice]_{708-the cold voice} . “ [I]_{709-the first voice} — [I]_{709-the first voice} do n’t know , [[my]_{709-the first voice} Lord]_{5037-my lord} , ”_{[709-the first voice]} said [the first voice]_{709-the first voice} nervously . “ [She]_5039-she set out to explore [the house]_{642-the house} , [I]_{709-the first voice} think ... ”_{[709-the first voice]} “ [You]_169-frank will milk [her]_5039-she before [we]_5041-we retire , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , ”_{[710-the second voice]} said [the second voice]_{710-the second voice} . “ [I]_{710-the second voice} will need feeding in the night . The journey has tired [me]_{710-the second voice} greatly . ”_{[710-the second voice]} Brow furrowed , [Frank]_169-frank inclined [his]_169-frank good ear still closer to the door , listening very hard . There was a pause , and then [the man called]_{711-the man called} [Wormtail]_171-wormtail spoke again . “ [[My]_{711-the man called} Lord]_{5037-my lord} , may [I]_{711-the man called} ask how long [we]_5041-we are going to stay [here]_5036-here ? ”_{[711-the man called]} “ A week , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said [the cold voice]_{708-the cold voice} . “ Perhaps longer . [The place]_{667-the place} is moderately comfortable , and the plan can not proceed yet . It would be foolish to act before the Quidditch World Cup is over . ”_{[708-the cold voice]} [Frank]_169-frank inserted a gnarled finger into [his]_169-frank ear and rotated it . [Owing]_173-owing , no doubt , to a buildup of earwax , [he]_169-frank had heard the word “ Quidditch , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} which was not a word at all . “ The — the Quidditch World Cup , [[my]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} ? ”_{[171-wormtail]} said [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . ( [Frank]_169-frank dug [his]_169-frank finger still more vigorously into [his]_169-frank ear . ) “ Forgive [me]_169-frank , but — [I]_169-frank do not understand — why should [we]_5041-we wait until the World Cup is over ? ”_[169-frank] “ Because , [fool]_5046-fool , at this very moment [wizards]_5047-wizards are pouring into [the country]_{5048-the country} from [all over [the world]_{5050-the world}]_{5049-all over the world} , and [every meddler from [the Ministry of Magic]_{5052-the ministry of magic}]_{5051-every meddler from the ministry of magic} will be on duty , on the watch for signs of unusual activity , checking and double - checking identities . [They]_{5051-every meddler from the ministry of magic} will be obsessed with security , lest [the Muggles]_174-muggles notice anything . So [we]_5041-we wait . ”_[169-frank] [Frank]_169-frank stopped trying to clear out [his]_169-frank ear . [He]_169-frank had distinctly heard the words “ Ministry of Magic , ”_[169-frank] “ [wizards]_5047-wizards , ”_[169-frank] and “ [Muggles]_174-muggles . ”_[169-frank] Plainly , each of these expressions meant something secret , and [Frank]_169-frank could think of [only two sorts of people who would speak in code]_{713-only two sorts of people who would speak in code} : [spies]_714-spies and [criminals]_{715-criminals} . [Frank]_169-frank tightened [his]_169-frank hold on [his]_169-frank walking stick once more , and listened more closely still . “ [[Your]_169-frank Lordship]_{5054-your lordship} is still determined , then ? ”_{[171-wormtail]} [Wormtail]_171-wormtail said quietly . “ Certainly [I]_171-wormtail am determined , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . ”_{[171-wormtail]} There was a note of menace in the cold voice now . A slight pause followed — and then [Wormtail]_171-wormtail spoke , the words tumbling from [him]_171-wormtail in a rush , as though [he]_171-wormtail was forcing [himself]_171-wormtail to say this before [he]_171-wormtail lost [his]_171-wormtail nerve . “ It could be done without [Harry Potter]_447-harry , [[my]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} . ”_{[171-wormtail]} Another pause , more protracted , and then — “ Without [Harry Potter]_447-harry ? ”_{[710-the second voice]} breathed [the second voice]_{710-the second voice} softly . “ [I]_{710-the second voice} see ... ”_{[710-the second voice]} “ [[My]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} , [I]_171-wormtail do not say this out of concern for [the boy]_{5057-the boy} ! ”_{[171-wormtail]} said [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , [his]_171-wormtail voice rising squeakily . “ [The boy]_{5057-the boy} is nothing to [me]_171-wormtail , nothing at all ! It is merely that if [we]_5059-we were to use [another witch]_{5060-another witch} or [wizard]_5061-wizard — [any wizard]_{5062-any wizard} — the thing could be done so much more quickly ! If [you]_{5037-my lord} allowed [me]_171-wormtail to leave [you]_{5037-my lord} for a short while — [you]_{5037-my lord} know that [I]_171-wormtail can disguise [myself]_171-wormtail most effectively — [I]_171-wormtail could be back here in as little as two days with [a suitable person]_{5063-a suitable person} — ”_{[171-wormtail]} “ [I]_{708-the cold voice} could use [another wizard]_{5064-another wizard} , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said [the cold voice]_{708-the cold voice} softly , “ that is true ... ”_{[708-the cold voice]} “ [[My]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} , it makes sense , ”_{[171-wormtail]} said [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , sounding thoroughly relieved now . “ Laying hands on [Harry Potter]_447-harry would be so difficult , [he]_447-harry is so well protected — ”_{[171-wormtail]} “ And so [you]_171-wormtail volunteer to go and fetch [me]_{708-the cold voice} a substitute ? [I]_{708-the cold voice} wonder ... perhaps the task of nursing [me]_{708-the cold voice} has become wearisome for [you]_171-wormtail , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail ? Could this suggestion of abandoning the plan be nothing more than an attempt to desert [me]_{708-the cold voice} ? ”_{[708-the cold voice]} “ [[My]_{708-the cold voice} Lord]_{5037-my lord} ! [I]_{708-the cold voice} — [I]_{708-the cold voice} have no wish to leave [you]_171-wormtail , none at all — ”_{[708-the cold voice]} “ Do not lie to [me]_{710-the second voice} ! ”_{[710-the second voice]} hissed [the second voice]_{710-the second voice} . “ [I]_{710-the second voice} can always tell , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail ! [You]_171-wormtail are regretting that [you]_171-wormtail ever returned to [me]_{710-the second voice} . [I]_{710-the second voice} revolt [you]_171-wormtail . [I]_{710-the second voice} see [you]_171-wormtail flinch when [you]_171-wormtail look at [me]_{710-the second voice} , feel [you]_171-wormtail shudder when [you]_171-wormtail touch [me]_{710-the second voice} ... ”_{[710-the second voice]} “ No ! [My]_{708-the cold voice} devotion to [[Your]_171-wormtail Lordship]_{5054-your lordship} — ”_{[708-the cold voice]} “ [Your]_171-wormtail devotion is nothing more than cowardice . [You]_171-wormtail would not be here if [you]_171-wormtail had anywhere else to go . How am [I]_{708-the cold voice} to survive without [you]_171-wormtail , when [I]_{708-the cold voice} need feeding every few hours ? Who is to milk [Nagini]_172-nagini ? ”_{[708-the cold voice]} “ But [you]_171-wormtail seem so much stronger , [[my]_{710-the second voice} Lord]_{5037-my lord} — ”_{[710-the second voice]} “ Liar , ”_{[710-the second voice]} breathed [the second voice]_{710-the second voice} . “ [I]_{710-the second voice} am no stronger , and a few days alone would be enough to rob [me]_{710-the second voice} of the little health [I]_{710-the second voice} have regained under [your]_{720-the second man} clumsy care . Silence ! ”_{[710-the second voice]} [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , who had been sputtering incoherently , fell silent at once . For a few seconds , [Frank]_169-frank could hear nothing but the fire crackling . Then [the second man]_{720-the second man} spoke once more , in a whisper that was almost a hiss . “ [I]_{720-the second man} have [my]_{720-the second man} reasons for using [the boy]_{5057-the boy} , as [I]_{720-the second man} have already explained to [you]_171-wormtail , and [I]_{720-the second man} will use no other . [I]_{720-the second man} have waited thirteen years . A few more months will make no difference . As for the protection surrounding [the boy]_{5057-the boy} , [I]_{720-the second man} believe [my]_{720-the second man} plan will be effective . All that is needed is a little courage from [you]_171-wormtail , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail — courage [you]_171-wormtail will find , unless [you]_171-wormtail wish to feel the full extent of [Lord Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} ’s wrath — ”_{[720-the second man]} “ [[My]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} , [I]_171-wormtail must speak ! ”_{[171-wormtail]} said [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , panic in [his]_171-wormtail voice now . “ All through [our]_5072-our journey [I]_171-wormtail have gone over the plan in [my]_171-wormtail head — [[my]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} , [Bertha Jorkins]_{177-bertha jorkins} ’s disappearance will not go unnoticed for long , and if [we]_5072-our proceed , if [I]_171-wormtail murder — ”_{[171-wormtail]} “ If ? ”_{[710-the second voice]} whispered [the second voice]_{710-the second voice} . “ If ? If [you]_171-wormtail follow the plan , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , [the Ministry]_{5074-the ministry} need never know that [anyone else]_{5075-anyone else} has died . [You]_171-wormtail will do it quietly and without fuss ; [I]_{710-the second voice} only wish that [I]_{710-the second voice} could do it [myself]_{710-the second voice} , but in [my]_{710-the second voice} present condition ... Come , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , one more death and [our]_5072-our path to [Harry Potter]_447-harry is clear . [I]_{710-the second voice} am not asking [you]_171-wormtail to do it alone . By that time , [[my]_{710-the second voice} faithful servant]_{5076-my faithful servant} will have rejoined [us]_5072-our — ”_{[710-the second voice]} “ [I]_171-wormtail am [a faithful servant]_{5077-a faithful servant} , ”_{[171-wormtail]} said [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , the merest trace of sullenness in [his]_171-wormtail voice . “ [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , [I]_171-wormtail need [somebody with brains]_{5078-somebody with brains} , somebody whose loyalty has never wavered , and [you]_171-wormtail , unfortunately , fulfill neither requirement . ”_{[171-wormtail]} “ [I]_171-wormtail found [you]_171-wormtail , ”_{[171-wormtail]} said [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , and there was definitely a sulky edge to [his]_171-wormtail voice now . “ [I]_171-wormtail was the one who found [you]_171-wormtail . [I]_171-wormtail brought [you]_171-wormtail [Bertha Jorkins]_{177-bertha jorkins} . ”_{[171-wormtail]} “ That is true , ”_{[720-the second man]} said [the second man]_{720-the second man} , sounding amused . “ A stroke of brilliance [I]_{720-the second man} would not have thought possible from [you]_171-wormtail , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail — though , if truth be told , [you]_171-wormtail were not aware how useful [she]_{177-bertha jorkins} would be when [you]_171-wormtail caught [her]_{177-bertha jorkins} , were [you]_171-wormtail ? ”_{[720-the second man]} “ [I]_{710-the second voice} — [I]_{710-the second voice} thought [she]_{177-bertha jorkins} might be useful , [[my]_{710-the second voice} Lord]_{5037-my lord} — ”_{[710-the second voice]} “ Liar , ”_{[710-the second voice]} said [the second voice]_{710-the second voice} again , the cruel amusement more pronounced than ever . “ However , [I]_{710-the second voice} do not deny that [her]_{177-bertha jorkins} information was invaluable . Without it , [I]_{710-the second voice} could never have formed [our]_5080-our plan , and for that , [you]_171-wormtail will have [your]_171-wormtail reward , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . [I]_{710-the second voice} will allow [you]_171-wormtail to perform an essential task for [me]_{710-the second voice} , one that [many of [[my]_{710-the second voice} followers]_{5082-my followers} would give [their]_{5081-many of my followers would give their right hands to perform} right hands to perform]_{5081-many of my followers would give their right hands to perform} ... ”_{[710-the second voice]} “ R - really , [[my]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} ? What — ? ”_{[171-wormtail]} [Wormtail]_171-wormtail sounded terrified again . “ Ah , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , [you]_171-wormtail do n’t want [me]_171-wormtail to spoil the surprise ? [Your]_171-wormtail part will come at the very end ... but [I]_171-wormtail promise [you]_171-wormtail , [you]_171-wormtail will have the honor of being just as useful as [Bertha Jorkins]_{177-bertha jorkins} . ”_{[171-wormtail]} “ [You]_171-wormtail ... [you]_171-wormtail ... ”_{[710-the second voice]} [Wormtail]_171-wormtail ’s voice suddenly sounded hoarse , as though [his]_171-wormtail mouth had gone very dry . “ [You]_171-wormtail ... are going ... to kill [me]_{710-the second voice} too ? ”_{[710-the second voice]} “ [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said [the cold voice]_{708-the cold voice} silkily , “ why would [I]_{708-the cold voice} kill [you]_171-wormtail ? [I]_{708-the cold voice} killed [Bertha]_{177-bertha jorkins} because [I]_{708-the cold voice} had to . [She]_{177-bertha jorkins} was fit for nothing after [my]_{708-the cold voice} questioning , quite useless . In any case , awkward questions would have been asked if [she]_{177-bertha jorkins} had gone back to [the Ministry]_{5074-the ministry} with the news that [she]_{177-bertha jorkins} had met [you]_171-wormtail on [her]_{177-bertha jorkins} holidays . [Wizards who are supposed to be dead]_{5085-wizards who are supposed to be dead} would do well not to run into [Ministry of Magic witches]_{5086-ministry of magic witches} at [wayside inns]_{5087-wayside inns} ... ”_{[708-the cold voice]} [Wormtail]_171-wormtail muttered something so quietly that [Frank]_169-frank could not hear it , but it made [the second man]_{720-the second man} laugh — an entirely mirthless laugh , cold as [his]_{720-the second man} speech . “ [We]_5088-we could have modified [her]_{177-bertha jorkins} memory ? But Memory Charms can be broken by [a powerful wizard]_{5089-a powerful wizard} , as [I]_{720-the second man} proved when [I]_{720-the second man} questioned [her]_{177-bertha jorkins} . It would be an insult to [her]_{177-bertha jorkins} memory not to use the information [I]_{720-the second man} extracted from [her]_{177-bertha jorkins} , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . ”_{[720-the second man]} Out in [the corridor]_{726-the corridor} , [Frank]_169-frank suddenly became aware that the hand gripping [his]_169-frank walking stick was slippery with sweat . [The man with the cold voice]_{727-the man with the cold voice} had killed [a woman]_{728-a woman} . [He]_{727-the man with the cold voice} was talking about it without any kind of remorse — with amusement . [He]_{727-the man with the cold voice} was dangerous — [a madman]_{729-a madman} . And [he]_{727-the man with the cold voice} was planning more murders — [this boy]_{730-this boy} , [Harry Potter]_447-harry , whoever [he]_447-harry was — was in danger — [Frank]_169-frank knew what [he]_169-frank must do . Now , if ever , was the time to go to [the police]_{611-the police} . [He]_169-frank would creep out of [the house]_{642-the house} and head straight for the telephone box in [the village]_{596-the village} ... but the cold voice was speaking again , and [Frank]_169-frank remained where [he]_169-frank was , frozen to the spot , listening with all [his]_169-frank might . “ One more murder ... [[my]_{720-the second man} faithful servant]_{5076-my faithful servant} at [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts ... [Harry Potter]_447-harry is as good as [mine]_{720-the second man} , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . It is decided . There will be no more argument . But quiet ... [I]_{720-the second man} think [I]_{720-the second man} hear [Nagini]_172-nagini ... ”_{[720-the second man]} And [the second man]_{720-the second man} ’s voice changed . [He]_{720-the second man} started making noises such as [Frank]_169-frank had never heard before ; [he]_{720-the second man} was hissing and spitting without drawing breath . [Frank]_169-frank thought [he]_{720-the second man} must be having some sort of fit or seizure . And then [Frank]_169-frank heard movement behind [him]_169-frank in [the dark passageway]_{735-the dark passageway} . [He]_169-frank turned to look , and found [himself]_169-frank paralyzed with fright . Something was slithering toward [him]_169-frank along [the dark corridor floor]_{736-the dark corridor floor} , and as it drew nearer to the sliver of firelight , [he]_169-frank realized with a thrill of terror that it was a gigantic snake , at least twelve feet long . Horrified , transfixed , [Frank]_169-frank stared as its undulating body cut a wide , curving track through the thick dust on the floor , coming closer and closer — What was [he]_169-frank to do ? The only means of escape was into [the room where [two men]_{738-two men} sat plotting murder]_{737-the room where two men sat plotting murder} , yet if [he]_169-frank stayed where [he]_169-frank was the snake would surely kill [him]_169-frank — But before [he]_169-frank had made [his]_169-frank decision , the snake was level with [him]_169-frank , and then , incredibly , miraculously , it was passing ; it was following the spitting , hissing noises made by [the cold voice beyond the door]_{739-the cold voice beyond the door} , and in seconds , the tip of its diamond - patterned tail had vanished through the gap . There was sweat on [Frank]_169-frank ’s forehead now , and the hand on the walking stick was trembling . Inside [the room]_{705-the room} , the cold voice was continuing to hiss , and [Frank]_169-frank was visited by a strange idea , an impossible idea ... [This man]_{741-this man} could talk to snakes . [Frank]_169-frank did n’t understand what was going on . [He]_169-frank wanted more than anything to be back in [his]_169-frank bed with [his]_169-frank hot - water bottle . The problem was that [his]_169-frank legs did n’t seem to want to move . As [he]_169-frank stood there shaking and trying to master [himself]_169-frank , [the cold voice]_{708-the cold voice} switched abruptly to English again . “ [Nagini]_172-nagini has interesting news , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} it said . “ In - indeed , [[my]_171-wormtail Lord]_{5037-my lord} ? ”_{[171-wormtail]} said [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . “ Indeed , yes , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said the voice . “ According to [Nagini]_172-nagini , there is [an old Muggle]_{5092-an old muggle} standing right outside [this room]_{5093-this room} , listening to every word [we]_5094-we say . ”_{[708-the cold voice]} [Frank]_169-frank did n’t have a chance to hide [himself]_169-frank . There were footsteps , and then the door of [the room]_{705-the room} was flung wide open . [A short , balding man with graying hair , a pointed nose , and small , watery eyes]_{744-a short , balding man with graying hair , a pointed nose , and small , watery eyes} stood before [Frank]_169-frank , a mixture of fear and alarm in [his]_{744-a short , balding man with graying hair , a pointed nose , and small , watery eyes} face . “ Invite [him]_{5092-an old muggle} inside , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . Where are [your]_169-frank manners ? ”_{[744-a short , balding man with graying hair , a pointed nose , and small , watery eyes]} The cold voice was coming from the ancient armchair before the fire , but [Frank]_169-frank could n’t see [the speaker]_{745-the speaker} . The snake , on the other hand , was curled up on the rotting hearth rug , like some horrible travesty of a pet dog . [Wormtail]_171-wormtail beckoned [Frank]_169-frank into [the room]_{705-the room} . Though still deeply shaken , [Frank]_169-frank took a firmer grip upon [his]_169-frank walking stick and limped over the threshold . The fire was the only source of light in [the room]_{705-the room} ; it cast long , spidery shadows upon the walls . [Frank]_169-frank stared at the back of the armchair ; [the man inside it]_{748-the man inside it} seemed to be even smaller than [[his]_{744-a short , balding man with graying hair , a pointed nose , and small , watery eyes} servant]_{749-his servant} , for [Frank]_169-frank could n’t even see the back of [his]_169-frank head . “ [You]_169-frank heard everything , [Muggle]_178-hermione ? ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said [the cold voice]_{708-the cold voice} . “ What ’s that [you]_{752-the voice} ’re calling [me]_169-frank ? ”_[169-frank] said [Frank]_169-frank defiantly , for now that [he]_169-frank was inside [the room]_{705-the room} , now that the time had come for some sort of action , [he]_169-frank felt braver ; it had always been so in the war . “ [I]_{752-the voice} am calling [you]_169-frank [a Muggle]_{5095-a muggle} , ”_{[752-the voice]} said [the voice]_{752-the voice} coolly . “ It means that [you]_169-frank are not [a wizard]_{5096-a wizard} . ”_{[752-the voice]} “ [I]_169-frank do n’t know what [you]_{752-the voice} mean by [wizard]_5061-wizard , ”_[169-frank] said [Frank]_169-frank , [his]_169-frank voice growing steadier . “ All [I]_169-frank know is [I]_169-frank ’ve heard enough to interest [the police]_{611-the police} tonight , [I]_169-frank have . [You]_169-frank ’ve done murder and [you]_169-frank ’re planning more ! And [I]_169-frank ’ll tell [you]_169-frank this too , ”_[169-frank] [he]_169-frank added , on a sudden inspiration , “ [[my]_169-frank wife]_{5099-my wife} knows [I]_169-frank ’m up here , and if [I]_169-frank do n’t come back — ”_[169-frank] “ [You]_169-frank have [no wife]_{5100-no wife} , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said [the cold voice]_{708-the cold voice} , very quietly . “ [Nobody]_603-nobody knows [you]_169-frank are here . [You]_169-frank told [nobody]_603-nobody that [you]_169-frank were coming . Do not lie to [Lord Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} , [Muggle]_178-hermione , for [he]_{176-voldemort} knows ... [he]_{176-voldemort} always knows ... ”_{[708-the cold voice]} “ Is that right ? ”_[169-frank] said [Frank]_169-frank roughly . “ [Lord]_5103-lord , is it ? Well , [I]_169-frank do n’t think much of [your]_169-frank manners , [[my]_169-frank Lord]_{5037-my lord} . Turn ’ round and face [me]_169-frank like [a man]_{704-a man} , why do n’t [you]_169-frank ? ”_[169-frank] “ But [I]_{708-the cold voice} am not [a man]_{704-a man} , [Muggle]_178-hermione , ”_{[708-the cold voice]} said the cold voice , barely audible now over the crackling of the flames . “ [I]_{708-the cold voice} am much , much more than [a man]_{704-a man} . However ... why not ? [I]_{708-the cold voice} will face [you]_169-frank ... [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , come turn [my]_{708-the cold voice} chair around . ”_{[708-the cold voice]} [The servant]_{754-the servant} gave a whimper . “ [You]_169-frank heard [me]_{754-the servant} , [Wormtail]_171-wormtail . ”_{[754-the servant]} Slowly , with [his]_{754-the servant} face screwed up , as though [he]_{754-the servant} would rather have done anything than approach [[his]_{754-the servant} master]_{755-his master} and the hearth rug where the snake lay , [the small man]_{756-the small man} walked forward and began to turn the chair . The snake lifted its ugly triangular head and hissed slightly as the legs of the chair snagged on its rug . And then the chair was facing [Frank]_169-frank , and [he]_169-frank saw what was sitting in it . [His]_169-frank walking stick fell to the floor with a clatter . [He]_169-frank opened [his]_169-frank mouth and let out a scream . [He]_169-frank was screaming so loudly that [he]_169-frank never heard the words the thing in the chair spoke as it raised a wand . There was a flash of green light , a rushing sound , and [Frank Bryce]_169-frank crumpled . [He]_169-frank was dead before [he]_169-frank hit the floor . Two hundred miles away , [the boy called [Harry Potter]_447-harry]_{757-the boy called harry potter} woke with a start .

[Harry]_447-harry lay flat on [his]_447-harry back , breathing hard as though [he]_447-harry had been running . [He]_447-harry had awoken from a vivid dream with [his]_447-harry hands pressed over [his]_447-harry face . The old scar on [his]_447-harry forehead , which was shaped like a bolt of lightning , was burning beneath [his]_447-harry fingers as though someone had just pressed a white - hot wire to [his]_447-harry skin . [He]_447-harry sat up , one hand still on [his]_447-harry scar , the other reaching out in the darkness for [his]_447-harry glasses , which were on the bedside table . [He]_447-harry put them on and [[his]_447-harry bedroom]_{758-his bedroom} came into clearer focus , lit by a faint , misty orange light that was filtering through the curtains from the street lamp outside the window . [Harry]_447-harry ran [his]_447-harry fingers over the scar again . It was still painful . [He]_447-harry turned on the lamp beside [him]_447-harry , scrambled out of bed , crossed [the room]_{705-the room} , opened [his]_447-harry wardrobe , and peered into the mirror on the inside of the door . [A skinny boy of fourteen]_{760-a skinny boy of fourteen} looked back at [him]_447-harry , [his]_{760-a skinny boy of fourteen} bright green eyes puzzled under [his]_{760-a skinny boy of fourteen} untidy black hair . [He]_{760-a skinny boy of fourteen} examined the lightning - bolt scar of [his]_{760-a skinny boy of fourteen} reflection more closely . It looked normal , but it was still stinging . [Harry]_447-harry tried to recall what [he]_447-harry had been dreaming about before [he]_447-harry had awoken . It had seemed so real ... There had been [two people [he]_447-harry knew]_{761-two people he knew} and one [he]_447-harry did n’t ... [He]_447-harry concentrated hard , frowning , trying to remember ... The dim picture of [a darkened room]_{762-a darkened room} came to [him]_447-harry ... There had been a snake on a hearth rug ... [a small man called [Peter]_179-peter]_{763-a small man called peter} , nicknamed Wormtail ... and a cold , high voice ... the voice of [Lord Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} . [Harry]_447-harry felt as though an ice cube had slipped down into [his]_447-harry stomach at the very thought ... [He]_447-harry closed [his]_447-harry eyes tightly and tried to remember what [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} had looked like , but it was impossible ... All [Harry]_447-harry knew was that at the moment when [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} ’s chair had swung around , and [he]_447-harry , [Harry]_447-harry , had seen what was sitting in it , [he]_447-harry had felt a spasm of horror , which had awoken [him]_447-harry ... or had that been the pain in [his]_447-harry scar ? And who had [the old man]_{764-the old man} been ? For there had definitely been [an old man]_{765-an old man} ; [Harry]_447-harry had watched [him]_{764-the old man} fall to the ground . It was all becoming confused . [Harry]_447-harry put [his]_447-harry face into [his]_447-harry hands , blocking out [[his]_447-harry bedroom]_{758-his bedroom} , trying to hold on to the picture of [that dimly lit room]_{767-that dimly lit room} , but it was like trying to keep water in [his]_447-harry cupped hands ; the details were now trickling away as fast as [he]_447-harry tried to hold on to them ... [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} and [Wormtail]_171-wormtail had been talking about someone [they]_768-they had killed , though [Harry]_447-harry could not remember the name ... and [they]_768-they had been plotting to kill [someone else ... [him]_{764-the old man}]_{769-someone else ... him} ! [Harry]_447-harry took [his]_447-harry face out of [his]_447-harry hands , opened [his]_447-harry eyes , and stared around [[his]_447-harry bedroom]_{758-his bedroom} as though expecting to see something unusual there . As it happened , there were an extraordinary number of unusual things in [this room]_{5093-this room} . A large wooden trunk stood open at the foot of [his]_447-harry bed , revealing a cauldron , broomstick , black robes , and assorted spellbooks . Rolls of parchment littered that part of [his]_447-harry desk that was not taken up by the large , empty cage in which [his]_447-harry snowy owl , [Hedwig]_180-hedwig , usually perched . On the floor beside [his]_447-harry bed a book lay open ; [Harry]_447-harry had been reading it before [he]_447-harry fell asleep last night . The pictures in this book were all moving . [Men in bright orange robes]_{772-men in bright orange robes} were zooming in and out of sight on broomsticks , throwing a red ball to [one another]_{773-one another} . [Harry]_447-harry walked over to the book , picked it up , and watched one of [the wizards]_{774-the wizards} score a spectacular goal by putting the ball through a fifty - foot - high hoop . Then [he]_447-harry snapped the book shut . Even [Quidditch]_{181-quidditch} — in [Harry]_447-harry ’s opinion , the best sport in [the world]_{5050-the world} — could n’t distract [him]_447-harry at the moment . [He]_447-harry placed Flying with the Cannons on [his]_447-harry bedside table , crossed to the window , and drew back the curtains to survey [the street below]_{776-the street below} . [Privet Drive]_{4-privet drive} looked exactly as [a respectable suburban street]_{777-a respectable suburban street} would be expected to look in the early hours of Saturday morning . All the curtains were closed . As far as [Harry]_447-harry could see through the darkness , there was n’t [a living creature in sight]_{778-a living creature in sight} , not even a cat . And yet ... and yet [... Harry]_447-harry went restlessly back to the bed and sat down on it , running a finger over [his]_447-harry scar again . It was n’t the pain that bothered [him]_447-harry ; [Harry]_447-harry was no stranger to pain and injury . [He]_447-harry had lost all the bones from [his]_447-harry right arm once and had them painfully regrown in a night . The same arm had been pierced by a venomous foot - long fang not long afterward . Only last year [Harry]_447-harry had fallen fifty feet from an airborne broomstick . [He]_447-harry was used to bizarre accidents and injuries ; they were unavoidable if [you]_779-you attended [Hogwarts School]_{5-hogwarts school} of Witchcraft and Wizardry and had a knack for attracting a lot of trouble . No , the thing that was bothering [Harry]_447-harry was that the last time [his]_447-harry scar had hurt [him]_447-harry , it had been because [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} had been close by ... But [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} could n’t be [here]_5036-here , now ... The idea of [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} lurking in [Privet Drive]_{4-privet drive} was absurd , impossible ... [Harry]_447-harry listened closely to the silence around [him]_447-harry . Was [he]_447-harry half - expecting to hear the creak of a stair or the swish of a cloak ? And then [he]_447-harry jumped slightly as [he]_447-harry heard [[his]_447-harry cousin]_{781-his cousin} [Dudley]_182-dudley give a tremendous grunting snore from [the next room]_{782-the next room} . [Harry]_447-harry shook [himself]_447-harry mentally ; [he]_447-harry was being stupid . There was [no one]_{783-no one} in [the house]_{642-the house} with [him]_447-harry except [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} , [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} , and [Dudley]_182-dudley , and [they]_785-they were plainly still asleep , [their]_785-they dreams untroubled and painless . Asleep was the way [Harry]_447-harry liked [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} best ; it was n’t as though [they]_785-they were ever any help to [him]_447-harry awake . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} , [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} , and [Dudley]_182-dudley were [[Harry]_447-harry ’s only living relatives]_{786-harry ’s only living relatives} . [They]_785-they were [Muggles who hated and despised magic in any form]_{787-muggles who hated and despised magic in any form} , which meant that [Harry]_447-harry was about as welcome in [[their]_785-they house]_{788-their house} as dry rot . [They]_785-they had explained away [Harry]_447-harry ’s long absences at [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts over the last three years by telling [everyone]_658-everyone that [he]_447-harry went to [[St. Brutus]_{186-st. brutus} ’s Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys]_{6-st. brutus ’s secure center for incurably criminal boys} . [They]_785-they knew perfectly well that , as [an underage wizard]_{790-an underage wizard} , [Harry]_447-harry was n’t allowed to use magic outside [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts , but [they]_785-they were still apt to blame [him]_447-harry for anything that went wrong about [the house]_{642-the house} . [Harry]_447-harry had never been able to confide in [them]_785-they or tell [them]_785-they anything about [his]_447-harry life in [the Wizarding world]_{792-the wizarding world} . The very idea of going to [them]_785-they when [they]_785-they awoke , and telling [them]_785-they about [his]_447-harry scar hurting [him]_447-harry , and about [his]_447-harry worries about [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} , was laughable . And yet it was because of [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} that [Harry]_447-harry had come to live with [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} in the first place . If it had n’t been for [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} , [Harry]_447-harry would not have had the lightning scar on [his]_447-harry forehead . If it had n’t been for [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} , [Harry]_447-harry would still have had [parents]_793-parents ... [Harry]_447-harry had been a year old the night that [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} — [the most powerful Dark wizard for a century]_{794-the most powerful dark wizard for a century} , [a wizard who had been gaining power steadily for eleven years]_{795-a wizard who had been gaining power steadily for eleven years} — arrived at [[his]_447-harry house]_{796-his house} and killed [[his]_447-harry father]_{797-his father} and [mother]_798-mother . [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} had then turned [his]_{176-voldemort} wand on [Harry]_447-harry ; [he]_{176-voldemort} had performed the curse that had disposed of [many full - grown witches]_{799-many full - grown witches} and [wizards]_5047-wizards in [his]_{176-voldemort} steady rise to power — and , incredibly , it had not worked . Instead of killing [the small boy]_{801-the small boy} , the curse had rebounded upon [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} . [Harry]_447-harry had survived with nothing but a lightning - shaped cut on [his]_447-harry forehead , and [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} had been reduced to something barely alive . [His]_{176-voldemort} powers gone , [his]_{176-voldemort} life almost extinguished , [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} had fled ; the terror in which [the secret community of witches and wizards]_{802-the secret community of witches and wizards} had lived for so long had lifted , [[Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} ’s followers]_{803-voldemort ’s followers} had disbanded , and [Harry Potter]_447-harry had become famous . It had been enough of a shock for [Harry]_447-harry to discover , on [his]_447-harry eleventh birthday , that [he]_447-harry was [a wizard]_{5096-a wizard} ; it had been even more disconcerting to find out that [everyone in [the hidden Wizarding world]_{806-the hidden wizarding world}]_{805-everyone in the hidden wizarding world} knew [his]_447-harry name . [Harry]_447-harry had arrived at [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts to find that heads turned and whispers followed [him]_447-harry wherever [he]_447-harry went . But [he]_447-harry was used to it now : At the end of this summer , [he]_447-harry would be starting [his]_447-harry fourth year at [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts , and [Harry]_447-harry was already counting the days until [he]_447-harry would be back at [the castle]_{807-the castle} again . But there was still a fortnight to go before [he]_447-harry went back to [school]_808-school . [He]_447-harry looked hopelessly around [[his]_447-harry room]_{809-his room} again , and [his]_447-harry eye paused on the birthday cards [[his]_447-harry two best friends]_{810-his two best friends} had sent [him]_447-harry at the end of July . What would [they]_{810-his two best friends} say if [Harry]_447-harry wrote to [them]_{810-his two best friends} and told [them]_{810-his two best friends} about [his]_447-harry scar hurting ? At once , [Hermione Granger]_178-hermione ’s voice seemed to fill [his]_447-harry head , shrill and panicky . “ [Your]_447-harry scar hurt ? [Harry]_447-harry , that ’s really serious ... Write to [Professor Dumbledore]_{187-dumbledore} ! And [I]_178-hermione ’ll go and check Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions ... Maybe there ’s something in there about curse scars ... ”_{[178-hermione]} Yes , that would be [Hermione]_178-hermione ’s advice : Go straight to [the headmaster of [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts]_{811-the headmaster of hogwarts} , and in the meantime , consult a book . [Harry]_447-harry stared out of the window at the inky blue - black sky . [He]_447-harry doubted very much whether a book could help [him]_447-harry now . As far as [he]_447-harry knew , [he]_447-harry was [the only living person]_{812-the only living person} to have survived a curse like [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} ’s ; it was highly unlikely , therefore , that [he]_447-harry would find [his]_447-harry symptoms listed in Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions . As for informing [the headmaster]_{813-the headmaster} , [Harry]_447-harry had no idea where [Dumbledore]_{187-dumbledore} went during the summer holidays . [He]_447-harry amused [himself]_447-harry for a moment , picturing [Dumbledore]_{187-dumbledore} , with [his]_{187-dumbledore} long silver beard , full - length [wizard]_5061-wizard ’s robes , and pointed hat , stretched out on [a beach somewhere]_{815-a beach somewhere} , rubbing suntan lotion onto [his]_{187-dumbledore} long crooked nose . Wherever [Dumbledore]_{187-dumbledore} was , though , [Harry]_447-harry was sure that [Hedwig]_180-hedwig would be able to find [him]_{187-dumbledore} ; [Harry]_447-harry ’s owl had never yet failed to deliver a letter to [anyone]_816-anyone , even without an address . But what would [he]_447-harry write ? [Dear Professor Dumbledore]_{187-dumbledore} , Sorry to bother [you]_447-harry , but [my]_0-i scar hurt this morning . Yours sincerely , [Harry Potter]_447-harry . Even inside [his]_447-harry head the words sounded stupid . And so [he]_447-harry tried to imagine [[his]_447-harry other best friend]_{817-his other best friend} , [Ron Weasley]_188-ron ’s , reaction , and in a moment , [Ron]_188-ron ’s red hair and long - nosed , freckled face seemed to swim before [Harry]_447-harry , wearing a bemused expression . “ [Your]_447-harry scar hurt ? But ... but [You]_447-harry - Know - Who ca n’t be near [you]_447-harry now , can [he]_447-harry ? [I]_188-ron mean ... [you]_447-harry ’d know , would n’t [you]_447-harry ? [He]_447-harry ’d be trying to do [you]_447-harry in again , would n’t [he]_447-harry ? [I]_188-ron dunno , [Harry]_447-harry , maybe curse scars always twinge a bit ... [I]_188-ron ’ll ask [Dad]_189-dad ... ”_[188-ron] [Mr. Weasley]_{190-mr. weasley} was [a fully qualified wizard who worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office]_{818-a fully qualified wizard who worked in the misuse of muggle artifacts office} at [the Ministry of Magic]_{5052-the ministry of magic} , but [he]_{190-mr. weasley} did n’t have any particular expertise in the matter of curses , as far as [Harry]_447-harry knew . In any case , [Harry]_447-harry did n’t like the idea of [the whole Weasley family]_{820-the whole weasley family} knowing that [he]_447-harry , [Harry]_447-harry , was getting jumpy about a few moments ’ pain . [Mrs. Weasley]_{191-mrs. weasley} would fuss worse than [Hermione]_178-hermione , and [Fred]_192-fred and [George]_193-george , [[Ron]_188-ron ’s sixteen - year - old twin brothers]_{821-ron ’s sixteen - year - old twin brothers} , might think [Harry]_447-harry was losing [his]_447-harry nerve . [The Weasleys]_{194-the weasleys} were [[Harry]_447-harry ’s favorite family in [the world]_{5050-the world}]_{822-harry ’s favorite family in the world} ; [he]_447-harry was hoping that [they]_{194-the weasleys} might invite [him]_447-harry to stay any time now ( [Ron]_188-ron had mentioned something about the Quidditch World Cup ) , and [he]_447-harry somehow did n’t want [his]_447-harry visit punctuated with anxious inquiries about [his]_447-harry scar . [Harry]_447-harry kneaded [his]_447-harry forehead with [his]_447-harry knuckles . What [he]_447-harry really wanted ( and it felt almost shameful to admit it to [himself]_447-harry ) was someone like — [someone like [a parent]_{825-a parent}]_{824-someone like a parent} : [an adult wizard whose advice [he]_447-harry could ask without feeling stupid]_{826-an adult wizard whose advice he could ask without feeling stupid} , [someone who cared about [him]_447-harry , who had had experience with Dark Magic ... And then the solution came to [him]_447-harry]_{827-someone who cared about him , who had had experience with dark magic ... and then the solution came to him} . It was so simple , and so obvious , that [he]_447-harry could n’t believe it had taken so long — [Sirius]_195-sirius . [Harry]_447-harry leapt up from the bed , hurried across [the room]_{705-the room} , and sat down at [his]_447-harry desk ; [he]_447-harry pulled a piece of parchment toward [him]_447-harry , loaded [his]_447-harry eagle - feather quill with ink , wrote [Dear Sirius]_195-sirius , then paused , wondering how best to phrase [his]_447-harry problem , still marveling at the fact that [he]_447-harry had n’t thought of [Sirius]_195-sirius straight away . But then , perhaps it was n’t so surprising — after all , [he]_447-harry had only found out that [Sirius]_195-sirius was [[his]_447-harry godfather]_{829-his godfather} two months ago . There was a simple reason for [Sirius]_195-sirius ’s complete absence from [Harry]_447-harry ’s life until then — [Sirius]_195-sirius had been in [Azkaban]_7-azkaban , [the terrifying wizard jail guarded by creatures called [dementors]_{831-dementors} , sightless , soul - sucking fiends who had come to search for [Sirius]_195-sirius at [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts when [he]_195-sirius had escaped]_{830-the terrifying wizard jail guarded by creatures called dementors , sightless , soul - sucking fiends who had come to search for sirius at hogwarts when he had escaped} . Yet [Sirius]_195-sirius had been innocent — the murders for which [he]_195-sirius had been convicted had been committed by [Wormtail]_171-wormtail , [[Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} ’s supporter]_{832-voldemort ’s supporter} , whom nearly [everybody now believed dead]_{833-everybody now believed dead} . [Harry]_447-harry , [Ron]_188-ron , and [Hermione]_178-hermione knew otherwise , however ; [they]_834-they had come face - to - face with [Wormtail]_171-wormtail only the previous year , though only [Professor Dumbledore]_{187-dumbledore} had believed [their]_834-they story . For one glorious hour , [Harry]_447-harry had believed that [he]_447-harry was leaving [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} at last , because [Sirius]_195-sirius had offered [him]_447-harry [a [home]_836-home once [his]_447-harry name had been cleared]_{835-a home once his name had been cleared} . But the chance had been snatched away from [him]_447-harry — [Wormtail]_171-wormtail had escaped before [they]_{185-the dursleys} could take [him]_447-harry to [the Ministry of Magic]_{5052-the ministry of magic} , and [Sirius]_195-sirius had had to flee for [his]_195-sirius life . [Harry]_447-harry had helped [him]_195-sirius escape on the back of a hippogriff called [Buckbeak]_196-buckbeak , and since then , [Sirius]_195-sirius had been on the run . [The home [Harry]_447-harry might have had if [Wormtail]_171-wormtail had not escaped]_{838-the home harry might have had if wormtail had not escaped} had been haunting [him]_447-harry all summer . It had been doubly hard to return to [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} knowing that [he]_447-harry had so nearly escaped [them]_{185-the dursleys} forever . Nevertheless , [Sirius]_195-sirius had been of some help to [Harry]_447-harry , even if [he]_447-harry could n’t be with [him]_447-harry . It was due to [Sirius]_195-sirius that [Harry]_447-harry now had all [his]_447-harry school things in [[his]_447-harry bedroom]_{758-his bedroom} with [him]_447-harry . [The Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} had never allowed this before ; [their]_{185-the dursleys} general wish of keeping [Harry]_447-harry as miserable as possible , coupled with [their]_{185-the dursleys} fear of [his]_447-harry powers , had led [them]_{185-the dursleys} to lock [his]_447-harry school trunk in the cupboard under the stairs every summer prior to this . But [their]_{185-the dursleys} attitude had changed since [they]_{185-the dursleys} had found out that [Harry]_447-harry had [a dangerous murderer]_{840-a dangerous murderer} for [a godfather]_{841-a godfather} — for [Harry]_447-harry had conveniently forgotten to tell [them]_{185-the dursleys} that [Sirius]_195-sirius was innocent . [Harry]_447-harry had received two letters from [Sirius]_195-sirius since [he]_447-harry had been back at [Privet Drive]_{4-privet drive} . Both had been delivered , not by owls ( as was usual with [wizards]_5047-wizards ) , but by large , brightly colored tropical birds . [Hedwig]_180-hedwig had not approved of [these flashy intruders]_{843-these flashy intruders} ; [she]_180-hedwig had been most reluctant to allow [them]_{843-these flashy intruders} to drink from [her]_180-hedwig water tray before flying off again . [Harry]_447-harry , on the other hand , had liked them ; [they]_{843-these flashy intruders} put [him]_447-harry in mind of [palm trees and white sand]_{844-palm trees and white sand} , and [he]_447-harry hoped that , wherever [Sirius]_195-sirius was ( [Sirius]_195-sirius never said , in case the letters were intercepted ) , [he]_447-harry was enjoying [himself]_447-harry . Somehow , [Harry]_447-harry found it hard to imagine [dementors]_{831-dementors} surviving for long in bright sunlight ; perhaps that was why [Sirius]_195-sirius had gone south . [Sirius]_195-sirius ’s letters , which were now hidden beneath the highly useful loose floorboard under [Harry]_447-harry ’s bed , sounded cheerful , and in both of them [he]_195-sirius had reminded [Harry]_447-harry to call on [him]_447-harry if ever [Harry]_447-harry needed to . Well , [he]_447-harry needed to now , all right ... [Harry]_447-harry ’s lamp seemed to grow dimmer as the cold gray light that precedes sunrise slowly crept into [the room]_{705-the room} . Finally , when the sun had risen , when [his]_447-harry bedroom walls had turned gold , and when sounds of movement could be heard from [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} and [[Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} ’s room]_{847-aunt petunia ’s room} , [Harry]_447-harry cleared [his]_447-harry desk of crumpled pieces of parchment and reread [his]_447-harry finished letter . [Dear Sirius]_195-sirius , Thanks for [your]_195-sirius last letter . That bird was enormous ; it could hardly get through [my]_0-i window . Things are the same as usual here . [Dudley]_182-dudley ’s diet is n’t going too well . [[My]_0-i aunt]_{848-my aunt} found [him]_182-dudley smuggling doughnuts into [[his]_182-dudley room]_{809-his room} yesterday . [They]_{848-my aunt} told [him]_182-dudley [they]_{848-my aunt} ’d have to cut [his]_182-dudley pocket money if [he]_182-dudley keeps doing it , so [he]_182-dudley got really angry and chucked [his]_182-dudley PlayStation out of the window . That ’s a sort of computer thing [you]_850-you can play games on . Bit stupid really , now [he]_182-dudley has n’t even got Mega - Mutilation Part Three to take [his]_182-dudley mind off things . [I]_0-i ’m okay , mainly because [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} are terrified [you]_850-you might turn up and turn them all into bats if [I]_0-i ask [you]_850-you to . A weird thing happened this morning , though . [My]_0-i scar hurt again . Last time that happened it was because [Voldemort]_{176-voldemort} was at [Hogwarts]_3-hogwarts . But [I]_0-i do n’t reckon [he]_{176-voldemort} can be anywhere near [me]_0-i now , can [he]_{176-voldemort} ? Do [you]_850-you know if curse scars sometimes hurt years afterward ? [I]_0-i ’ll send this with [Hedwig]_180-hedwig when [she]_180-hedwig gets back ; [she]_180-hedwig ’s off hunting at the moment . Say hello to [Buckbeak]_196-buckbeak for [me]_0-i . Yes , thought [Harry]_447-harry , that looked all right . There was no point putting in the dream ; [he]_447-harry did n’t want it to look as though [he]_447-harry was too worried . [He]_447-harry folded up the parchment and laid it aside on [his]_447-harry desk , ready for when [Hedwig]_180-hedwig returned . Then [he]_447-harry got to [his]_447-harry feet , stretched , and opened [his]_447-harry wardrobe once more . Without glancing at [his]_447-harry reflection , [he]_447-harry started to get dressed before going down to breakfast .

By the time [Harry]_447-harry arrived in [the kitchen]_{688-the kitchen} , the three [Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} were already seated around the table . [None of [them]_{185-the dursleys}]_{852-none of them} looked up as [he]_447-harry entered or sat down . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} ’s large red face was hidden behind the morning ’s Daily Mail , and [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} was cutting a grapefruit into quarters , [her]_{184-aunt petunia} lips pursed over [her]_{184-aunt petunia} horselike teeth . [Dudley]_182-dudley looked furious and sulky , and somehow seemed to be taking up even more space than usual . This was saying something , as [he]_182-dudley always took up an entire side of the square table by [himself]_182-dudley . When [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} put a quarter of unsweetened grapefruit onto [Dudley]_182-dudley ’s plate with a tremulous “ There [you]_{184-aunt petunia} are , [Diddy darling]_{197-diddy darling} , ”_{[184-aunt petunia]} [Dudley]_182-dudley glowered at [her]_{184-aunt petunia} . [His]_182-dudley life had taken a most unpleasant turn since [he]_182-dudley had come [home]_836-home for the summer with [his]_182-dudley end - of - year report . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} and [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} had managed to find excuses for [his]_182-dudley bad marks as usual : [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} always insisted that [Dudley]_182-dudley was [a very gifted boy whose teachers]_{854-a very gifted boy whose teachers} did n’t understand [him]_182-dudley , while [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} maintained that “ [he]_182-dudley did n’t want [some swotty little nancy boy]_{5108-some swotty little nancy boy} for [a son]_{5109-a son} anyway . ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [They]_855-they also skated over the accusations of bullying in the report — “ [He]_182-dudley ’s [a boisterous little boy]_{5110-a boisterous little boy} , but [he]_182-dudley would n’t hurt a fly ! ”_{[184-aunt petunia]} [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} had said tearfully . However , at the bottom of the report there were a few well - chosen comments from [the school nurse]_{856-the school nurse} that not even [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} and [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} could explain away . No matter how much [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} wailed that [Dudley]_182-dudley was big - boned , and that [his]_182-dudley poundage was really puppy fat , and that [he]_182-dudley was [a growing boy who needed plenty of food]_{857-a growing boy who needed plenty of food} , the fact remained that [the school outfitters]_{858-the school outfitters} did n’t stock knickerbockers big enough for [him]_182-dudley anymore . [The school nurse]_{856-the school nurse} had seen what [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} ’s eyes — so sharp when it came to spotting fingerprints on [her]_{184-aunt petunia} gleaming walls , and in observing the comings and goings of [the neighbors]_{860-the neighbors} — simply refused to see : that far from needing extra nourishment , [Dudley]_182-dudley had reached roughly the size and weight of a young killer whale . So — after many tantrums , after arguments that shook [Harry]_447-harry ’s bedroom floor , and many tears from [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} — the new regime had begun . The diet sheet that had been sent by [the Smeltings school nurse]_{861-the smeltings school nurse} had been taped to the fridge , which had been emptied of all [Dudley]_182-dudley ’s favorite things — fizzy drinks and cakes , chocolate bars and burgers — and filled instead with fruit and vegetables and the sorts of things that [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} called “ rabbit food . ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} To make [Dudley]_182-dudley feel better about it all , [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} had insisted that [the whole family]_{862-the whole family} follow the diet too . [She]_{184-aunt petunia} now passed a grapefruit quarter to [Harry]_447-harry . [He]_447-harry noticed that it was a lot smaller than [Dudley]_182-dudley ’s . [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} seemed to feel that the best way to keep up [Dudley]_182-dudley ’s morale was to make sure that [he]_182-dudley did , at least , get more to eat than [Harry]_447-harry . But [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} did n’t know what was hidden under the loose floorboard [upstairs]_692-upstairs . [She]_{184-aunt petunia} had no idea that [Harry]_447-harry was not following the diet at all . The moment [he]_447-harry had got wind of the fact that [he]_447-harry was expected to survive the summer on carrot sticks , [Harry]_447-harry had sent [Hedwig]_180-hedwig to [[his]_447-harry friends]_{864-his friends} with pleas for help , and [they]_{864-his friends} had risen to the occasion magnificently . [Hedwig]_180-hedwig had returned from [[Hermione]_178-hermione ’s house]_{865-hermione ’s house} with a large box stuffed full of sugar - free snacks . ( [[Hermione]_178-hermione ’s parents]_{866-hermione ’s parents} were [dentists]_867-dentists . ) [Hagrid]_198-hagrid , [the Hogwarts gamekeeper]_{868-the hogwarts gamekeeper} , had obliged with a sack full of [his]_198-hagrid own homemade rock cakes . ( [Harry]_447-harry had n’t touched these ; [he]_447-harry had had too much experience of [Hagrid]_198-hagrid ’s cooking . ) [Mrs. Weasley]_{191-mrs. weasley} , however , had sent the family owl , [Errol]_199-errol , with an enormous fruitcake and assorted meat pies . [Poor Errol]_199-errol , who was elderly and feeble , had needed a full five days to recover from the journey . And then on [Harry]_447-harry ’s birthday ( which [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} had completely ignored ) [he]_447-harry had received four superb birthday cakes , one each from [Ron]_188-ron , [Hermione]_178-hermione , [Hagrid]_198-hagrid , and [Sirius]_195-sirius . [Harry]_447-harry still had two of them left , and so , looking forward to a real breakfast when [he]_447-harry got back [upstairs]_692-upstairs , [he]_447-harry ate [his]_447-harry grapefruit without complaint . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} laid aside [his]_{183-uncle vernon} paper with a deep sniff of disapproval and looked down at [his]_{183-uncle vernon} own grapefruit quarter . “ Is this it ? ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} said grumpily to [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} . [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} gave [him]_{183-uncle vernon} a severe look , and then nodded pointedly at [Dudley]_182-dudley , who had already finished [his]_182-dudley own grapefruit quarter and was eyeing [Harry]_447-harry ’s with a very sour look in [his]_{183-uncle vernon} piggy little eyes . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} gave a great sigh , which ruffled [his]_{183-uncle vernon} large , bushy mustache , and picked up [his]_{183-uncle vernon} spoon . The doorbell rang . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} heaved [himself]_{183-uncle vernon} out of [his]_{183-uncle vernon} chair and set off down [the hall]_{698-the hall} . Quick as a flash , while [[his]_{183-uncle vernon} mother]_{871-his mother} was occupied with the kettle , [Dudley]_182-dudley stole the rest of [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} ’s grapefruit . [Harry]_447-harry heard talking at the door , and [someone]_872-someone laughing , and [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} answering curtly . Then the front door closed , and the sound of ripping paper came from [the hall]_{698-the hall} . [Aunt Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} set the teapot down on the table and looked curiously around to see where [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} had got to . [She]_{184-aunt petunia} did n’t have to wait long to find out ; after about a minute , [he]_{183-uncle vernon} was back . [He]_{183-uncle vernon} looked livid . “ [You]_447-harry , ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} barked at [Harry]_447-harry . “ In [the living room]_{5111-the living room} . Now . ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} Bewildered , wondering what on earth [he]_447-harry was supposed to have done this time , [Harry]_447-harry got up and followed [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} out of [the kitchen]_{688-the kitchen} and into [the next room]_{782-the next room} . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} closed the door sharply behind [both of [them]_{876-both of them}]_{876-both of them} . “ So , ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} said , marching over to the fireplace and turning to face [Harry]_447-harry as though [he]_{183-uncle vernon} were about to pronounce [him]_447-harry under arrest . “ So . ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [Harry]_447-harry would have dearly loved to have said , “ So what ? ”_[447-harry] but [he]_447-harry did n’t feel that [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} ’s temper should be tested this early in the morning , especially when it was already under severe strain from lack of food . [He]_447-harry therefore settled for looking politely puzzled . “ This just arrived , ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} said [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} . [He]_{183-uncle vernon} brandished a piece of purple writing paper at [Harry]_447-harry . “ A letter . About [you]_447-harry . ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [Harry]_447-harry ’s confusion increased . Who would be writing to [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} about [him]_{183-uncle vernon} ? Who did [he]_{183-uncle vernon} know who sent letters by [the postman]_{877-the postman} ? [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} glared at [Harry]_447-harry , then looked down at the letter and began to read aloud : [Dear Mr.]_{200-dear mr.} and [Mrs. Dursley]_{201-mrs. dursley} , [We]_878-we have never been introduced , but [I]_0-i am sure [you]_447-harry have heard a great deal from [Harry]_447-harry about [[my]_0-i son]_{879-my son} [Ron]_188-ron . As [Harry]_447-harry might have told [you]_447-harry , the final of the Quidditch World Cup takes place this Monday night , and [[my]_0-i husband]_{880-my husband} , [Arthur]_202-arthur , has just managed to get prime tickets through [his]_202-arthur connections at [the Department of Magical Games and Sports]_{881-the department of magical games and sports} . [I]_0-i do hope [you]_447-harry will allow [us]_878-we to take [Harry]_447-harry to the match , as this really is a once - in - a - lifetime opportunity ; [Britain]_8-britain has n’t hosted the Cup for thirty years , and tickets are extremely hard to come by . [We]_878-we would of course be glad to have [Harry]_447-harry stay for the remainder of the summer holidays , and to see [him]_447-harry safely onto [the train]_{882-the train} back to [school]_808-school . It would be best for [Harry]_447-harry to send [us]_878-we [your]_447-harry answer as quickly as possible in the normal way , because [the Muggle postman]_{884-the muggle postman} has never delivered to [[our]_878-we house]_{885-our house} , and [I]_0-i am not sure [he]_{884-the muggle postman} even knows where it is . Hoping to see [Harry]_447-harry soon , [Yours]_447-harry sincerely , [Molly Weasley]_203-molly . P.S. [I]_0-i do hope [we]_878-we ’ve put enough stamps on .

[Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} finished reading , put [his]_{183-uncle vernon} hand back into [his]_{183-uncle vernon} breast pocket , and drew out something else . “ Look at this , ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} growled . [He]_{183-uncle vernon} held up the envelope in which [Mrs. Weasley]_{191-mrs. weasley} ’s letter had come , and [Harry]_447-harry had to fight down a laugh . Every bit of it was covered in stamps except for a square inch on the front , into which [Mrs. Weasley]_{191-mrs. weasley} had squeezed [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} ’ address in minute writing . “ [She]_{191-mrs. weasley} did put enough stamps on , then , ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry , trying to sound as though [Mrs. Weasley]_{191-mrs. weasley} ’s was a mistake [anyone]_816-anyone could make . [[His]_447-harry uncle]_{887-his uncle} ’s eyes flashed . “ [The postman]_{877-the postman} noticed , ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} said through gritted teeth . “ Very interested to know where this letter came from , [he]_{877-the postman} was . That ’s why [he]_{877-the postman} rang the doorbell . Seemed to think it was funny . ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [Harry]_447-harry did n’t say anything . [Other people]_{888-other people} might not understand why [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} was making a fuss about too many stamps , but [Harry]_447-harry had lived with [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} too long not to know how touchy [they]_{185-the dursleys} were about anything even slightly out of the ordinary . [Their]_{185-the dursleys} worst fear was that [someone]_872-someone would find out that [they]_{185-the dursleys} were connected ( however distantly ) with [people like [Mrs. Weasley]_{191-mrs. weasley}]_{890-people like mrs. weasley} . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} was still glaring at [Harry]_447-harry , who tried to keep [his]_447-harry expression neutral . If [he]_447-harry did n’t do or say anything stupid , [he]_447-harry might just be in for the treat of a lifetime . [He]_447-harry waited for [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} to say something , but [he]_{183-uncle vernon} merely continued to glare . [Harry]_447-harry decided to break the silence . “ So — can [I]_447-harry go then ? ”_[447-harry] [he]_447-harry asked . A slight spasm crossed [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} ’s large purple face . The mustache bristled . [Harry]_447-harry thought [he]_447-harry knew what was going on behind the mustache : a furious battle as two of [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} ’s most fundamental instincts came into conflict . Allowing [Harry]_447-harry to go would make [Harry]_447-harry happy , something [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} had struggled against for thirteen years . On the other hand , allowing [Harry]_447-harry to disappear to [the Weasleys]_{194-the weasleys} ’ for the rest of the summer would get rid of [him]_447-harry two weeks earlier than [anyone]_816-anyone could have hoped , and [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} hated having [Harry]_447-harry in [the house]_{642-the house} . To give [himself]_447-harry thinking time , it seemed , [he]_447-harry looked down at [Mrs. Weasley]_{191-mrs. weasley} ’s letter again . “ Who is [this woman]_{5113-this woman} ? ”_[447-harry] [he]_447-harry said , staring at the signature with distaste . “ [You]_{183-uncle vernon} ’ve seen [her]_{5113-this woman} , ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry . “ [She]_{5113-this woman} ’s [[my]_447-harry friend]_{5114-my friend} [[Ron]_188-ron ’s mother]_{5115-ron ’s mother} , [she]_{5113-this woman} was meeting [him]_188-ron off the Hog — off the school train at the end of last term . ”_[447-harry] [He]_447-harry had almost said “ [Hogwarts Express]_{9-hogwarts express} , ”_[447-harry] and that was a sure way to get [[his]_447-harry uncle]_{887-his uncle} ’s temper up . [Nobody]_603-nobody ever mentioned the name of [[Harry]_447-harry ’s school]_{895-harry ’s school} aloud in [the Dursley household]_{896-the dursley household} . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} screwed up [his]_{183-uncle vernon} enormous face as though trying to remember something very unpleasant . “ [Dumpy sort of woman]_{5116-dumpy sort of woman} ? ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} growled finally . “ Load of [children with red hair]_{5117-children with red hair} ? ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [Harry]_447-harry frowned . [He]_447-harry thought it was a bit rich of [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} to call [anyone “ dumpy]_{5118-anyone “ dumpy} , ”_[447-harry] when [[his]_{183-uncle vernon} own son]_{897-his own son} , [Dudley]_182-dudley , had finally achieved what [he]_{183-uncle vernon} ’d been threatening to do since the age of three , and become wider than [he]_{183-uncle vernon} was tall . [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} was perusing the letter again . “ [Quidditch]_{181-quidditch} , ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} muttered under [his]_{183-uncle vernon} breath . “ [Quidditch]_{181-quidditch} — what is this rubbish ? ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [Harry]_447-harry felt a second stab of annoyance . “ It ’s a sport , ”_[447-harry] [he]_447-harry said shortly . “ Played on broom — ”_[447-harry] “ All right , all right ! ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} said [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} loudly . [Harry]_447-harry saw , with some satisfaction , that [[his]_447-harry uncle]_{887-his uncle} looked vaguely panicky . Apparently [his]_{183-uncle vernon} nerves could n’t stand the sound of the word “ broomsticks ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} in [[his]_{183-uncle vernon} living room]_{899-his living room} . [He]_{183-uncle vernon} took refuge in perusing the letter again . [Harry]_447-harry saw [his]_{183-uncle vernon} lips form the words “ send [us]_5119-us [your]_5119-us answer ... in the normal way . ”_[447-harry] [He]_447-harry scowled . “ What does [she]_5120-she mean , ‘ the normal way ’ ? ”_[447-harry] [he]_447-harry spat . “ Normal for [us]_5119-us , ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry , and before [[his]_447-harry uncle]_{887-his uncle} could stop [him]_447-harry , [he]_447-harry added , “ [you]_{887-his uncle} know , owl post . That ’s what ’s normal for [wizards]_5047-wizards . ”_[447-harry] [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} looked as outraged as if [Harry]_447-harry had just uttered a disgusting swearword . Shaking with anger , [he]_{183-uncle vernon} shot a nervous look through the window , as though expecting to see [some of [the neighbors]_{860-the neighbors}]_{901-some of the neighbors} with [their]_{901-some of the neighbors} ears pressed against the glass . “ How many times do [I]_{183-uncle vernon} have to tell [you]_447-harry not to mention that unnaturalness under [my]_{183-uncle vernon} roof ? ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} [he]_{183-uncle vernon} hissed , [his]_{183-uncle vernon} face now a rich plum color . “ [You]_447-harry stand there , in the clothes [Petunia]_{184-aunt petunia} and [I]_{183-uncle vernon} have put on [your]_447-harry ungrateful back — ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} “ Only after [Dudley]_182-dudley finished with [them]_5122-them , ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry coldly , and indeed , [he]_447-harry was dressed in a sweatshirt so large for [him]_447-harry that [he]_447-harry had had to roll back the sleeves five times so as to be able to use [his]_447-harry hands , and which fell past the knees of [his]_447-harry extremely baggy jeans . “ [I]_{183-uncle vernon} will not be spoken to like that ! ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} said [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} , trembling with rage . But [Harry]_447-harry was n’t going to stand for this . Gone were the days when [he]_447-harry had been forced to take every single one of [the Dursleys]_{185-the dursleys} ’ stupid rules . [He]_447-harry was n’t following [Dudley]_182-dudley ’s diet , and [he]_447-harry was n’t going to let [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} stop [him]_447-harry from going to the Quidditch World Cup , not if [he]_447-harry could help it . [Harry]_447-harry took a deep , steadying breath and then said , “ Okay , [I]_447-harry ca n’t see the World Cup . Can [I]_447-harry go now , then ? Only [I]_447-harry ’ve got a letter to [Sirius]_195-sirius [I]_447-harry want to finish . [You]_{183-uncle vernon} know — [[my]_447-harry godfather]_{5123-my godfather} . ”_[447-harry] [He]_447-harry had done it . [He]_447-harry had said the magic words . Now [he]_447-harry watched the purple recede blotchily from [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} ’s face , making it look like badly mixed black currant ice cream . “ [You]_447-harry ’re — [you]_447-harry ’re writing to [him]_{5123-my godfather} , are [you]_447-harry ? ”_{[183-uncle vernon]} said [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} , in a would - be calm voice — but [Harry]_447-harry had seen the pupils of [his]_{183-uncle vernon} tiny eyes contract with sudden fear . “ Well — yeah , ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry , casually . “ It ’s been a while since [he]_{5123-my godfather} heard from [me]_447-harry , and , [you]_{183-uncle vernon} know , if [he]_{5123-my godfather} does n’t , [he]_{5123-my godfather} might start thinking something ’s wrong . ”_[447-harry] [He]_447-harry stopped there to enjoy the effect of these words . [He]_447-harry could almost see the cogs working under [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} ’s thick , dark , neatly parted hair . If [he]_{183-uncle vernon} tried to stop [Harry]_447-harry writing to [Sirius]_195-sirius , [Sirius]_195-sirius would think [Harry]_447-harry was being mistreated . If [he]_{183-uncle vernon} told [Harry]_447-harry [he]_{183-uncle vernon} could n’t go to the Quidditch World Cup , [Harry]_447-harry would write and tell [Sirius]_195-sirius , who would know [Harry]_447-harry was being mistreated . There was only one thing for [Uncle Vernon]_{183-uncle vernon} to do . [Harry]_447-harry could see the conclusion forming in [[his]_447-harry uncle]_{887-his uncle} ’s mind as though the great mustached face were transparent . [Harry]_447-harry tried not to smile , to keep [his]_447-harry own face as blank as possible . And then — “ Well , all right then . [You]_447-harry can go to this ruddy ... this stupid ... this World Cup thing . [You]_447-harry write and tell these — these Weasleys [they]_5124-they ’re to pick [you]_447-harry up , mind . [I]_447-harry have n’t got time to go dropping [you]_447-harry off all over [the country]_{5048-the country} . And [you]_447-harry can spend the rest of the summer there . And [you]_447-harry can tell [your]_447-harry — [[your]_447-harry godfather]_{5126-your godfather} ... tell [him]_{5126-your godfather} ... tell [him]_{5126-your godfather} [you]_447-harry ’re going . ”_[447-harry] “ Okay then , ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry brightly . [He]_447-harry turned and walked toward [the living room]_{5111-the living room} door , fighting the urge to jump into the air and whoop . [He]_447-harry was going ... [he]_447-harry was going to [the Weasleys]_{194-the weasleys} ’ , [he]_447-harry was going to watch the Quidditch World Cup ! Outside in [the hall]_{698-the hall} [he]_447-harry nearly ran into [Dudley]_182-dudley , who had been lurking behind the door , clearly hoping to overhear [Harry]_447-harry being told off . [He]_182-dudley looked shocked to see the broad grin on [Harry]_447-harry ’s face . “ That was an excellent breakfast , was n’t it ? ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry . “ [I]_447-harry feel really full , do n’t [you]_182-dudley ? ”_[447-harry] Laughing at the astonished look on [Dudley]_182-dudley ’s face , [Harry]_447-harry took the stairs three at a time , and hurled [himself]_447-harry back into [[his]_447-harry bedroom]_{758-his bedroom} . The first thing [he]_447-harry saw was that [Hedwig]_180-hedwig was back . [She]_180-hedwig was sitting in [her]_180-hedwig cage , staring at [Harry]_447-harry with [her]_180-hedwig enormous amber eyes , and clicking [her]_180-hedwig beak in the way that meant [she]_180-hedwig was annoyed about something . Exactly what was annoying [her]_180-hedwig became apparent almost at once . “ OUCH ! ”_[447-harry] said [Harry]_447-harry as what appeared to be a small , gray , feathery tennis ball collided with the side of [his]_447-harry head . [Harry]_447-harry massaged the spot furiously , looking up to see what had hit [him]_447-harry , and saw a minute owl , small enough to fit into the palm of [his]_447-harry hand , whizzing excitedly around [the room]_{705-the room} like a loose firework . [Harry]_447-harry then realized that the owl had dropped a letter at [his]_447-harry feet . [Harry]_447-harry bent down , recognized [Ron]_188-ron ’s handwriting , then tore open the envelope . Inside was a hastily scribbled note . [Harry]_447-harry — [DAD]_189-dad GOT THE TICKETS — [Ireland]_10-ireland versus [Bulgaria]_11-bulgaria , Monday night . [Mum]_204-mum ’s writing to [the Muggles]_174-muggles to ask [you]_447-harry to stay . [They]_174-muggles might already have the letter , [I]_0-i do n’t know how fast Muggle post is . Thought [I]_0-i ’d send this with [Pig]_205-pig anyway .

[Harry]_447-harry stared at the word “ Pig , ”_[447-harry] then looked up at the tiny owl now zooming around the light fixture on the ceiling . [He]_447-harry had never seen anything that looked less like a pig . Maybe [he]_447-harry could n’t read [Ron]_188-ron ’s writing . [He]_447-harry went back to the letter : [We]_908-we ’re coming for [you]_447-harry whether [the Muggles]_174-muggles like it or not , [you]_447-harry ca n’t miss the World Cup , only [Mum]_204-mum and [Dad]_189-dad reckon it ’s better if [we]_908-we pretend to ask [their]_174-muggles permission first . If [they]_174-muggles say yes , send [Pig]_205-pig back with [your]_447-harry answer pronto , and [we]_908-we ’ll come and get [you]_447-harry at five o’clock on Sunday . If [they]_174-muggles say no , send [Pig]_205-pig back pronto and [we]_908-we ’ll come and get [you]_447-harry at five o’clock on Sunday anyway . [Hermione]_178-hermione ’s arriving this afternoon . [Percy]_206-percy ’s started work — [the Department of International Magical Cooperation]_{909-the department of international magical cooperation} . Do n’t mention anything about Abroad while [you]_447-harry ’re [here]_5036-here unless [you]_447-harry want the pants bored off [you]_447-harry . See [you]_447-harry soon —

“ Calm down ! ”_[447-harry] [Harry]_447-harry said as the small owl flew low over [his]_447-harry head , twittering madly with what [Harry]_447-harry could only assume was pride at having delivered the letter to [the right person]_{911-the right person} . “ Come here , [I]_447-harry need [you]_188-ron to take [my]_447-harry answer back ! ”_[447-harry] The owl fluttered down on top of [Hedwig]_180-hedwig ’s cage . [Hedwig]_180-hedwig looked coldly up at it , as though daring it to try and come any closer . [Harry]_447-harry seized [his]_447-harry eagle - feather quill once more , grabbed a fresh piece of parchment , and wrote : [Ron]_188-ron , it ’s all okay , [the Muggles]_174-muggles say [I]_0-i can come . See [you]_188-ron five o’clock tomorrow . Ca n’t wait .

[He]_447-harry folded this note up very small , and with immense difficulty , tied it to the tiny owl ’s leg as it hopped on the spot with excitement . The moment the note was secure , the owl was off again ; it zoomed out of the window and out of sight . [Harry]_447-harry turned to [Hedwig]_180-hedwig . “ Feeling up to a long journey ? ”_[447-harry] [he]_447-harry asked [her]_180-hedwig . [Hedwig]_180-hedwig hooted in a dignified sort of a way . “ Can [you]_188-ron take this to [Sirius]_195-sirius for [me]_447-harry ? ”_[447-harry] [he]_447-harry said , picking up [his]_447-harry letter . “ Hang on ... [I]_447-harry just want to finish it . ”_[447-harry] [He]_447-harry unfolded the parchment and hastily added a postscript . If [you]_188-ron want to contact [me]_0-i , [I]_0-i ’ll be at [[my]_0-i friend]_{5114-my friend} [Ron Weasley]_188-ron ’s for the rest of the summer . [[His]_{5114-my friend} dad]_{913-his dad} ’s got [us]_914-us tickets for the Quidditch World Cup !